Comments on: Does Honda Lack “Clarity” on Their Thoughts About Plug-in Vehicles? http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/ Real-time news, information, and discussion about the Chevrolet Volt. Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:53:37 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Ty http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-32866 Ty Sun, 16 Mar 2008 12:23:55 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-32866 At $600 /month just how many takers do you think they will have?  And if H gets cheap, then what? Will Honda yank them away from leasers the way GM did with the EV1?    Lawyers, politicans, bankers, and car salesmen, They're all crooks and liars. At $600 /month just how many takers do you think they will have?  And if H gets cheap, then what? Will Honda yank them away from leasers the way GM did with the EV1?    Lawyers, politicans, bankers, and car salesmen, They’re all crooks and liars.

]]> By: Xias http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-32492 Xias Tue, 11 Mar 2008 16:46:39 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-32492 Given the huge success of hybrids like the Prius, in a way I'm glad to see Honda taking a different route. Time will tell if cars like the Clarity will pan out as a viable alternative to other hybrids. Given the huge success of hybrids like the Prius, in a way I’m glad to see Honda taking a different route. Time will tell if cars like the Clarity will pan out as a viable alternative to other hybrids.

]]> By: Grizzly http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20853 Grizzly Fri, 21 Dec 2007 01:34:38 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20853 # RB Says: December 20th, 2007 at 6:45 pm Quote I take this guy very seriously. His cars have a terrific track record. *** **** Things change, as so do the times. # RB Says:
December 20th, 2007 at 6:45 pm Quote

I take this guy very seriously. His cars have a terrific track record.

*** ****

Things change, as so do the times.

]]> By: RB http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20833 RB Thu, 20 Dec 2007 23:45:03 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20833 I take this guy very seriously. His cars have a terrific track record. I take this guy very seriously. His cars have a terrific track record.

]]> By: GXT http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20739 GXT Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:40:32 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20739 Honda's position is that inexpensive, non-range-specific, and profitable hybrids make more sense than expensive, range-specific, and loss-leading cars like the Volt. Honda was the only major automaker that I am aware of that didn't lobby the US government against the latest CAFE increases (GM and Toyota did). Therefore I don't question Honda’s continued commitment to the environment. Nor do I question their devotion to engineering or their vision of the future. If they don’t see the value then there is a chance that the value simply isn’t there. Time will tell. Here is the complete story: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/318222/1/.html Honda’s position is that inexpensive, non-range-specific, and profitable hybrids make more sense than expensive, range-specific, and loss-leading cars like the Volt.

Honda was the only major automaker that I am aware of that didn’t lobby the US government against the latest CAFE increases (GM and Toyota did). Therefore I don’t question Honda’s continued commitment to the environment. Nor do I question their devotion to engineering or their vision of the future.

If they don’t see the value then there is a chance that the value simply isn’t there. Time will tell.

Here is the complete story:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_asiapacific_business/view/318222/1/.html

]]> By: dakotatycoon http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20705 dakotatycoon Thu, 20 Dec 2007 12:38:25 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20705 If he can't understand the allure of plug-in hybrids, then he is out of touch with the times and should resign. It may not make business sense. But that is very different from understanding. I think some younger blood is needed at Honda. If he can’t understand the allure of plug-in hybrids, then he is out of touch with the times and should resign. It may not make business sense. But that is very different from understanding. I think some younger blood is needed at Honda.

]]> By: Anti-Oil Jihadi http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20595 Anti-Oil Jihadi Wed, 19 Dec 2007 21:22:25 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20595 Typo alert: "rage-extended electric" -> range-extended. death to oil www.oiljihad.org Typo alert: “rage-extended electric” -> range-extended.

death to oil http://www.oiljihad.org

]]> By: Steven B http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20592 Steven B Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:39:41 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20592 Things change, and if nothing else, Honda can change its mind as new details about the future vehicle market and technology come to light. Maybe Japan will end up being the first major industrialized nation to make full use of renewable power, especially geothermal, along with wind and tide, and will come to have an extremely cheap electricity market. If that happens, considering the oil-poor nature of Japan, the government may mandate plug-in hybrids and EVs as a matter of national security. Hydrogen is never the prime choice for anyone nation with a cost-effective alternative. It is about a third of the efficiency of batteries when using electrolysis, and is only cost effective to produce if made from fossil or bio- fuels. And then the cost of creating new infrastructure is a major concern. But regardless, nothing prevents anyone from having plug-in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The Shanghai Volt concept is the prime example of that. Things change, and if nothing else, Honda can change its mind as new details about the future vehicle market and technology come to light. Maybe Japan will end up being the first major industrialized nation to make full use of renewable power, especially geothermal, along with wind and tide, and will come to have an extremely cheap electricity market. If that happens, considering the oil-poor nature of Japan, the government may mandate plug-in hybrids and EVs as a matter of national security. Hydrogen is never the prime choice for anyone nation with a cost-effective alternative. It is about a third of the efficiency of batteries when using electrolysis, and is only cost effective to produce if made from fossil or bio- fuels. And then the cost of creating new infrastructure is a major concern. But regardless, nothing prevents anyone from having plug-in hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. The Shanghai Volt concept is the prime example of that.

]]> By: banjoez http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20579 banjoez Wed, 19 Dec 2007 20:00:38 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20579 Here may be another reason plug-ins don't make as much sense to the Japanese: "In the U.S., however, electricity is cheap by world standards. For instance, Maycock notes that the retail cost of electricity usually runs around 8.5 cents per kWh in the U.S. versus Japan's 22 cents per kWh." Source is from 2004 so it is a bit dated: http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8225/print/8225solarenergy.html Here may be another reason plug-ins don’t make as much sense to the Japanese:

“In the U.S., however, electricity is cheap by world standards. For instance, Maycock notes that the retail cost of electricity usually runs around 8.5 cents per kWh in the U.S. versus Japan’s 22 cents per kWh.”

Source is from 2004 so it is a bit dated:
http://pubs.acs.org/cen/coverstory/8225/print/8225solarenergy.html

]]> By: lkruijsw http://gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20570 lkruijsw Wed, 19 Dec 2007 19:32:39 +0000 http://www.gm-volt.com/2007/12/19/does-honda-lack-clarity-on-their-thoughts-about-plug-in-vehicles/#comment-20570 The key thing is price and power. If you can make a rather cheap fuel cell with lots of power, then there might be a future. The cell they make is 100kW for 67kg. That is very good. But what about the price? They don't give any hints. Is the platinum still in? Fuel cells can't compete on efficiency, so, they should compete on price. The key thing is price and power. If you can make a rather cheap fuel cell with lots of power, then there might be a future.

The cell they make is 100kW for 67kg. That is very good.

But what about the price? They don’t give any hints. Is the platinum still in?

Fuel cells can’t compete on efficiency, so, they should compete on price.

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